Brief case book



May 3, 1938.

H E, KRANHOLD BRIEF CASE BOOK Filed April 6, 1952 Patented May 3, 1938 UNITE-nsTArEs BRIEF oAsn BooK Harry E. Kranhold, St. Paul, Minn., assigner to Brown & Bigelow, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation ol" Minnesota Application April 6, 1932, Serial No. 603,587

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in brief case books which are made of leather or other similar iiexible material, and applicant provides a brief case in the form of. a book so that the same may be opened up with the sides lying fiat when the case is wide open.

A feature of the invention resides in forming the main body portion out of a single piece of leather, or similar material, and securing to the marginal edges of that portion of the body which opens up, a flexible inter-engaging locking means which is adapted to be operated by a runner which acts as a key to lock and unlock the free edges of the `brief case when it is desired.

It is also a feature to provide a means of locking the runner against movement in a novel manner. I am -aware of other means of locking runners. However, so far as I know, the means and construction which I have disclosed herein are believed to be new and of a more practical nature than has| been accomplished heretofore.

It is a feature to provide a brief case which will open up so that the sides will liev flat and to form in the same large pockets having the openings in the` same towards the center of the brief case so that papers carried in the pocket will not project toward the outer interlocking edges of the brief case book.

A further object of the brief case is to provide a brief case book having means secured to the body of the brief case adapted to act as a loose-leaf holder so that sheets may be supported by the same and carried in book form in the brief case. Thus the construction in this form comprises an important feature of the invention.

These together with other details and objects will be more fully and clearly set forth in the specification and claims.

In the drawing forming part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the brief case book.

Figure 2 is a plan view of my brief case book in open position.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4--4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional detail showing a form of locking means and a new form of runner for the flexible lock for the edges of the brief case.

Figure 6 is a perspective detail of another form of locking means for my brief case.

The brief case A is formed with its body portion of a single piece of leather', or other strong flexible material, and the side walls II) and II constitute the main portion of. the body of the same.

Within the sides Iil and II of the brief case A,

I provide large pockets I2 and I3 having theirwopen edges I2 and I3 toward the center of the 5 brief case A while the other three sides of the pockets I2 and I3 are secured by suitable stitching to the walls I il and II of the brief case A, the stitching being placed as close to the free edgevg. of the walls II? and II as possible so as to give va 10 large well-formed pocket in each side I0 and II of the case. Each of. the pockets I2 and I3 are formed with .gussets i6 on the ends thereof to permit the free edges I2 and I3 to expand org-3 open to admit articles into the pockets I2 and I3 "(15 when it is desired and to lie flat when the pockets are comparatively empty or only contain sheets or fiat material. The body of the brief case A is made in book-like formation. Secured to the marginal edge on the inner sides, III and II, is a flexible locking means I4 which is made up of a series of hook members which are adapted to interlock with each other when the locking means It is moved to closed position and to release when the same is opened.

I provide a runner key II which is pulled along by the ngertab I8 to lock and unlock the hooks ofthe locking means I4. The corners I5 of the case A are rounded to permit the free travel of the locking runner I'I in the locking and unlock- 30 ing of the flexible locking member I 4. When the brief case book A is in open position, as illustrated in Figure 2, the runner key I 'I is in the lower position illustrated. To lock the brief case the tab I8 is engaged and pulled around to the other side of the brief case A which entirely closes and interlocks the edges of the brief case closing the same securely.

Directly through the center of the brief case A and in the portion which connects the sides I0 and I I I provide a loose-leaf holder B having a series of sheet-holding rings I9 which are operated to open the same by the finger key 2H at one end of the sheet-holding means B. The sheetholding means B is held by the outer reinforcing plate ZI which extends along the outside of the case A as illustrated in Figure 4 and in Figure 1. The sheet holder B is adapted to provide a looseleaf holder so that sheets may be held Within the brief case A if it is desired. When the brief case A is used in this manner, it performs the functions of a book and the sheets held by the sheetholding means B may be turned from side I0 to the side II in the same manner as sheets are Cil turned in a book. 'Ihis brief case has the advantage of giving a loose-leaf formation with the locking means I4 which closes or seals the free edges of the brief case so as to entirely close the same. The closing of the brief case A is very quick and convenient. The member 2I may be slotted at 22 to receive the loose tongue 23 which is formed with a hole 24 on its outer free end. This permits the lock 25 to be passed through the hole 24 and through the hole 26 in the tab I8. When the lock 25 is in this position as illustrated in Figure 6, the brief case is locked closed so that the runner key I1 cannot be moved to unlock the brief case A.

I provide a new form of runner key I1 which is adapted to operate on the flexible locking means I4 as illustrated in Figure 5. The portion 21 of the brief case A in this illustration may be provided with an eye 29 to form a hole through the same so as to receive the shackle of the lock 28. Projecting from the runner key I1 I form an integral loop 30 through which the shackle of the lock 28 may engage so that when the shackle is engaged through the eye 29 and through the loop 30 it will lock the runner key I1 independent of the tab I8. In this form of the runner key I1 the loop 30 may be integral with the body of the runner key I1 which is of a metal very hard and not easily broken, such as steel or other hard material, which will protect the locking of the runner key I1. This forms a strong locking means which cannot be easily broken and is believed to be far better than where the tab I8 is locked by means of a lock such as 28 or 25.

My brief case book may be made in any size desired and it is adapted to provide a flat brief case wherein loose-leaf sheets may be held readily and with the pockets I2 and I3 other papers and articles may be contained conveniently in the book brief case A. In this brief case book A resides the convenience of carrying legal papers, sales papers and any other data which one wishes to carry in the brief case and owing to its flat compact nature it is very desirable.

The novel means of locking the edges by the flexible member I4 accomplishes a result which is Very much desired by those having occasion to use a brief case of this character.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described the principles of my book brief case and while I have illustrated a particular formation and construction of the same, it should be understood that the invention should be interpreted within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A brief case formed with equally-sized side walls, a flexible interlocking means secured to the edges of the said side walls, a runner key for operating said locking means, a stiffening member secured between the side walls, a locking tongue attached to but freely disposed with respect to said stiffening member having an eye formed therein for receiving a lock member, and an integral eye member formed on said key adapted to receive the lock member extending through said freely disposed tongue to lock said brief case closed.

2. A flexible locking means for brief cases, including rows of interlocking hook members, a runner key adapted to slide over said hook means to lock and unlock the same, a perforated locking tongue anchored within said case and extending therefrom and an integral lock member receiving eye formed on said runner key whereby said runner key may be locked against movement by passing a locking member therethrough and through said locking tongue.

HARRY E. KRANHOLD. 

